I have to go to court for the first time and I’m only 14. Where can I get help from?
I was mugged last month and now I’m having a really tough time. I’m going through the court case at the moment, and really need some help. Can the court help me?
I have to go to court for the first time and I’m only 14. Where can I get help from?
If you’re about to go off to court as a witness or for any other situation, court can seem as foreign as another country. Sometimes it’s hard to understand what’s going on because of the special language and practices used in courts. Information guides can help you out – there’s one on being a witness and there’s one on going to court.
Your parents can read these online tips which may help them support you.
I was mugged last month and now I’m having a really tough time. I’m going through the court case at the moment, and really need some help. Can the court help me?
If you have, as the result of crime
- suffered emotional harm or physical injury
- lost property
- suffered the death (or mental incapacity) of a member of your immediate family
then a range of free, confidential and professional services are available through the court. You also have rights to assistance through the court process.
One option is to get a victim adviser, who is a court staff member. They can give you information about court proceedings and what to do, and can tell you what your rights are. You can also get help to prepare a Victim Impact Statement (VIS), which the judge will keep in mind when deciding on the offender’s sentence.
Victim support offers help to anyone hurt by crime or trauma. Volunteers across the country offer their services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Their website has information on victim’s rights, financial assistance and different options and background reading.
You can call Victim Support on 0800 VICTIM (0800 842 846), or write to them at PO BOX 3017, Wellington 6140.
To find out more information on the services available for you, look at the Ministry of Justice’s guide.